Ben Saunders steps in to fight Jake Ellenberger at UFC Utica

Jake Ellenberger has himself a fight in New York after all.

After losing originally announced opponent Bryan Barberena to injury, “The Juggernaut” will now face replacement Ben Saunders (21-9-2) in a welterweight bout at UFC Utica on June 1 at the Adirondack Center.

The match was made official on the UFC’s website following a report by MMA DNA.

Across three separate stints with the UFC, Saunders, 34, has compiled an 8-6 record, though he is just 1-2 since rejoining the promotion in January 2017. After winning a unanimous decision over Court McGee at UFC Phoenix, “Killa B” dropped his next two fights to Peter Sobotta andAlan Jouban, both by second-round knockout.

Ellenberger (31-13) will be making the walk to the Octagon for the 20th time. The 33-year-old is 10-9 in the UFC, but he has lost two straight and seven of his last nine. In his most recent outing at UFC Nashville last April, he was knocked out in the second round by Mike Perry.